How do you write a CV, when you've never had a job?

[stupidgirl]

Well, the title says it all really, doesn't it? I got pregnant when I was still at college, and have been on benefits since. My education has been patchy (3 GCSE's and 2 (I think!) A'levels, that's all I took).

That's about it really

It's not that I'm going for a major high-powered job, it's only care work, but it doesn't look good on paper, does it? With nothing to put in a cv, who's going to want to employ me?

Would I be better going through the job centre?

Have you raised your child(ren) yourself? If so then that in itself is a job!!!

Stupidgirl, you are being a bit stupid
you are raising two kids on your own and he them. This would have given you masses of skills, far more than you can get in many jobs.
I'm sure someone who can put it better than I can will advise you how to word these well.
Good luck.

List down everything you have done. For instance did you do work experience at school/college? Did you have any positions of responsibilty such as class rep?
Have a good think about it. GCSE's and A-Levels are good - when you type out the CV spread it out. Put loads about your interests and skills. Being a mother is a job! Think about what you do in a day. You could put down that you have been raising a family. This isnt seen as a weak point.
Think of school leavers - they only have GCSES - no experience. I assume you can use a computer as you are on here - companies love computer skills - so you can put all the computer tasks you can do on your cv.

You are not stupid at all, dont put yourself down. Do your CV and be proud. This is a great first step. If I were you - do a CV, go to the job centre as well. When I looked for a job I sent my CV to practically every company I liked in the yellow pages!! Do a cover letter selling yourself.
good luck and you are not stupid!

If you want it to look snazzy

Name at top
contact details below
line- makes it look good.
Profile- this is a summary about yourself- there are lots of webistes out there that give you an idea of the sort of thing a profile should say. If you give me a few pointers of sorts of things you have done then I can help you with that

next work experience- any voluntary work include here, or work experience you did whilst at school. Any staurday jobs? Start with most recent. You could include your "mum" years here as well breifly at the top

Then Education. Start with A levles then GCSEs

Next personal summary- stuff like driving licence, nationality, married
hobbies
then references or "references available on request"

Guess whose been applying ofr jobs as a freelance CV writer Thinking of setting up on my own.....

If you don't mind losing anonymity then feel free to send me a copy via contact another talker and I'll be happy to jig it around. Spent the last couple of weeks writing test CVs.....

oh btw that would be for free obviously!

Aww thanks guys...

I left school at 11 so didn't even do work expereince or anything like that. I did volunteer for quite a while at the local Cats Protection League...other that that...

I am doing an OU course, I can drive, I can type, but not that well! I am managing a budget and all the 'mum' related tasks. But does that really count for anything? I have nothing to 'prove' any of that...

Oh, bless you Jimjams, I might take you up on that - got to get something down on paper first!

Don't worry too much about proving it, just include it anyway. Does the job application come with a job and/or person specificiation tht you can write about - explain how your skills will meet the points in them.

OU course definitely needs to go down. And the cats. Name any software packages you are "proficient" in- things like work, outlook express etc. You can put that under a separate heading after pofile- called Information Technology. I'd aim for a well balanced one side.

As you are going for a carer's job I think its worth mentioning some mummy stuff.

Were you home edded? You could put down about that making you independent. Put your OU course under Education- at the top before A levels.

sorry thats not clear- make the CV one side- and nicely spread out- don't worry about fiddling around with that until you've got everything down though.